PRESIDENTS ANNOUNCEMENT – SEPTEMBER 2018

September has been a very busy month for STRA riders demonstrating their skills apart from the STRA Championship.

The NATC/AMA National Competition was completed the first weekend of the month in Donner, CA finalizing the series. The STRA made a strong showing in National and Western series. Nationally we had Alex Niederer placing third out of seven in the Pro Class even after fracturing his pelvis the first day of the Arkansas event in June. Andreas Niederer made a very impressive showing in his first year as a Pro finishing fifth. Alan Shirley was also recognized for his national completion in the Expert Class. Maddie Hoover was crowned National Champion in the Women’s Pro Class. In the West Coast regional events we were represented by Laura Peters and Scott Jordan taking second and third in their respective classes. As motioned in the last President’s Message the East Coast events were more populated with STRA riders and again a big THANK YOU to all of those people who committed time, energy and resources to hosting the National event at the TTC.

STRA Riders took to the world stage competing on September 22nd and 23rd in Sokolov, Czech Republic at the Trial des Nations. Our STRA riders Laura Peters and Maddie Hoover helped the women’s team finish seventh out of the ten teams competing in their class. Laura commented it was the hardest trial she has ever ridden in the rain and fifty degree weather. The event was advertised boasting wooded and man-made sections. The men’s team at the TdN finished on the second step bowing to the Czech Republic. The Tdn is often referred to as the Olympic of Trials because this year it fronted 26 national teams competing for international ranking. Events like this do not go without support. Our STRA members again stepped up to the plate raising money for our riders via a fund raising clinic hosted by Laura and Ray Peters at Papa Joes’ Hickory Hills, purchasing of USA/TdN T-shirts and donations made like the ones by the Saint Laurent’s, Deasons, Shirleys, Yanks, Harts and Estes via our STRA website.

On the home front our season is about to begin again. On October 13 and 14th we will resume competition at Henry Hills in Cornelia, GA. This is going to be a special event hosted by our trials masters Jamie Gourley and Sean Parker because is celebrates the 20th year running of the Henry Hills competition. The weekend following Henry Hills will be the 58K at the Trials Training Center in Sequatchie, TN on October 20 and 21. If you need a warm up to these events our Alabama contingency via the Huntsville Trials Club is hosting an event on September 29th in Hollytree, AL. Go to the STRA Facebook page and look for their posting for more information.

I look forward to seeing everyone soon at Henry Hills for the beginning of the fall half of the 2018 STRA Championship Season!